Acorn Curriculum Principles

Preparing young people for their world in their time.

Acorn Education Trust was formed in 2014 to create a local solution to a national strategy. The Trust operates across two nursery schools, fifteen primary schools and three secondary schools, educating pupils from age two to 18.

The curriculum across all Trust schools is designed to help students learn more, remember more and do more.

As a Trust, we believe passionately that every child/student:

1. Feels they belong

Feeling safe, happy and supported is the first priority in every setting. They are the foundations upon which the next five aims can be established and achieved.

2. Is challenged

Every day in lessons, in regular and one off activities and events, the children and students are encouraged to explore the unknown. By pushing their own boundaries, they learn confidence and resilience, have an increased desire to take on new opportunities and risks and, learn to accept both failures and successes.

3. Develops a love of learning

The interests and talents of each child/student, alongside the key skills in English and Maths as well as consideration of breadth, balance, supplemented by specialised provision, drives the curriculum, allowing all learners to flourish.

4. Has aspiration

Opportunities to widen their horizons locally, nationally and internationally ensures every child/student is engaged, has a sense of inquiry and continues to work with rigor, enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. In Church Schools a sense of spirituality infuses the culture and learning of the school.

5. Makes a unique contribution to their school

Independence, leadership, teamwork, a sense of community, of giving and taking and being the best that you can be, is developed at every educational stage.

6. Is ready for their world in their time

Every Trust leader and school leader must know and understand their schools, their children/students and their community, and, through regular monitoring and evaluation is able to adapt the curriculum to ensure it is preparing every learner for their next stage.